The hub
Disability Atlas
About 1 million services and supports for every disability, veterans, and caregivers, in all 50 states and DC.
Every state and county306 Medicaid waiversFree, no account
A Disability Empowerment Agency
Stronger organizations. Fuller lives.
We help disability organizations plan, build, and grow. We also built the Disability Atlas, so every family can find help in every state.
What we've done
20+years in disability services
55+organizations supported
15states where we've worked
$10M+raised by our partners with ConnectIDD support since 2024
What we've built
~1Mdisability services and supports, mapped
1.2Mclinicians listed, by specialty
306Medicaid waiver programs, with enrollment guides
51state report cards, all 50 states and DC
How we help
Five ways to work together
Flagship
Chief Strategy Partner
A senior strategist at your leadership table, without a full-time hire.
Learn more
Strategy
Strategy and governance
Plans your team will use and boards that lead.
Learn more
Programs
Programs and people
Quality programs and teams that stay.
Learn more
Data
Data and landscape analysis
See who is served, where the gaps are, and how the money flows.
Learn more
AI and tools
AI training and tool building
Custom tools that cut software costs and free up money for mission.
Learn moreThe Atlas Network
Free help for every disability, in every state
We built the Disability Atlas and a front door for each community. Free to use, with no account needed.
Intellectual and developmental
IDD Atlas
iddatlas.orgAutism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and more, plus State of Support and The Family Journey.
Mental and behavioral healthMentalHealthAtlas
mentalhealthatlas.orgTherapists, counselors, support groups, crisis help, and plain answers about cost.
Physical and mobilityMobilityAtlas
mobilityatlas.orgRehab, wheelchairs and equipment, home access, rides, and adaptive sports.
SensorySensoryAtlas
sensoryatlas.orgVision rehab, hearing care, interpreters, braille, guide dogs, and assistive technology.
Medical complexityComplexCare Atlas
complexcareatlas.orgComplex care clinics, children's hospitals, home nursing, and equipment.
Veterans and military familiesServed & Supported
servedandsupported.orgStraight answers about VA health care and benefits, and free help near you.
Jobs and careersEmployment Atlas
employmentatlas.orgJob coaches, vocational rehabilitation, benefits counseling, and employers who hire.
Special education, ages 3 to 22SPED Atlas
spedatlas.orgYour district's special education office, specialized schools, advocates, and your rights.
Neurological and chronic health
SpoonsAtlas
Coming soonBrain injury, epilepsy, MS, ALS, Parkinson's, and chronic illness.
The Trellis Method
A cohort program for disability organizations
Eleven domains, weekly coaching, and the policies and tools you need, built during the program. Cohort 1 launches January 2027.
Client testimonials
In our partners' words
Leaders we work with, on what changed. Select a testimonial to read it in full.
“We've gone from stretched thin to thriving, doubling both our enrollment and our revenue.”
Angela Stephens
Executive Director, It's a Sensory World!
itsasensoryworld.org (opens in a new tab)“ConnectIDD helped us think strategically about expansion, sustainability, operations, and ultimately the purchase of the property that is now our new home.”
Taylor Gardener
Executive Director, The Garden Foundation
thegardenfoundationlv.org (opens in a new tab)Ready to talk about what's next?
The Atlas Network
Free help for every disability, in every state.
We built the Disability Atlas so people with disabilities, veterans, and families can find services, apply for support, and compare states. Free, with no account needed.
The hub
Disability Atlas
About 1 million services and supports and 1.2 million clinicians, for every disability, for veterans, and for caregivers, in all 50 states and DC.
Every state and county306 named Medicaid waiversStep-by-step enrollment guidesFilter by how you pay
disabilityatlas.org
Front doors
A front door for every community
Each site is built for the people it serves, with the same trusted data underneath.
Intellectual and developmental
IDD Atlas
iddatlas.orgAutism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and more, plus State of Support and The Family Journey.
Mental and behavioral healthMentalHealthAtlas
mentalhealthatlas.orgTherapists, counselors, support groups, crisis help, and plain answers about cost.
Physical and mobilityMobilityAtlas
mobilityatlas.orgRehab, wheelchairs and equipment, home access, rides, and adaptive sports.
SensorySensoryAtlas
sensoryatlas.orgVision rehab, hearing care, interpreters, braille, guide dogs, and assistive technology.
Medical complexityComplexCare Atlas
complexcareatlas.orgComplex care clinics, children's hospitals, home nursing, and equipment.
Veterans and military familiesServed & Supported
servedandsupported.orgStraight answers about VA health care and benefits, and free help near you.
Jobs and careersEmployment Atlas
employmentatlas.orgJob coaches, vocational rehabilitation, benefits counseling, and employers who hire.
Special education, ages 3 to 22SPED Atlas
spedatlas.orgYour district's special education office, specialized schools, advocates, and your rights.
Neurological and chronic health
SpoonsAtlas
Coming soonBrain injury, epilepsy, MS, ALS, Parkinson's, and chronic illness.
Inside the Atlas
Tools that started here, now in one place
State of Support, The Family Journey, and Shop Inclusive now live inside the Disability Atlas.
Compare states
State Report
Every state's support grade and funding rank in one place, graded A+ to F.
Family guide
The Family Journey
What to do at every stage, from diagnosis to planning for the future, in your state.
Support inclusive businesses
Shop Inclusive
Disability-owned and veteran-owned businesses, social enterprises, and inclusive employers.
For organizations
Improve your listing
Confirm your organization's details, or sponsor the Atlas in your state.
How listings work
Know what you're looking at
Every listing shows how it was checked. Listing counts measure who is listed, not quality.
Self Verified
The organization confirmed its own listing in the last 12 months.
Confirmed Profile
ConnectIDD checked the listing against public sources.
Registry Listing
A licensed provider from a public registry. Call first to confirm.
Sponsors never change results
Sponsors never change who is listed or the order.
For leaders and funders
Need more than a search? We turn the map into a plan.
ConnectIDD uses the same data to build landscape analyses, service gap maps, and state funding scans for organizations and funders.
Services
Strategy that works on a Tuesday morning.
Built for how disability organizations actually run.
Flagship
Chief Strategy Partner
A senior strategist in the room for the long haul. We take on only a few partners each year.
- Standing sessions with your ED
- Board meeting prep and attendance
- Quarterly strategy reviews
- On-call counsel for big decisions
Strategy
Strategy, governance, and design
Clear projects for organizations at a turning point.
- Strategic planning
- Board development
- Organizational design
- Merger and partnership planning
- Growth and expansion planning
- Mission, vision, and values
Programs
Programs, people, and training
Programs that meet people where they are, and teams ready to deliver them.
- Day and vocational programs
- Program evaluation
- Staff and board training
- HR and compensation
- DSP retention
- Culture and team health
Data and research
Data and landscape analysis
We map who is served, where the gaps are, and how the money flows. Built on the Disability Atlas and public funding data, so your plan rests on evidence.
- Regional landscape analyses
- Service gap maps
- State funding and waiver scans
- Community needs assessments
- Research for funders
- Findings your board can read
AI and custom tools
AI training and tool building
Internal communications, a website, an intranet, client tracking, donor management, and more. We build custom AI tools that cut long-term software spending and free up money for your mission.
- AI training for staff and boards
- Internal communications
- Websites and intranet pages
- Client tracking
- Donor management
- Custom tools for your workflow
Public agencies and funders
We respond to RFPs for program design, research, training, and people strategy.
Send a solicitationNeed fundraising help?
We refer fundraising and development work to trusted partners. Ask us for an introduction.
Ask for a referral
Ready to talk about what's next?
Get in touch
The Trellis Method · Cohort 1, 2027
Build the organization your community needs.
A six-month program for the leaders of IDD organizations, at every stage of the journey. Cohort 1 runs January through June 2027 and closes in Asheville.
11operational domains
24weeks of programming
65+contact hours
5 to 8peer organizations
Who it's for
Wherever your organization is today.
The eleven domains are the same for everyone. What changes is where you start, and what you build first.
Emerging
Preparing to openA family group, founder, or team with a clear vision and no doors open yet.
First focus: vision, governance, program design, and your funding model
Early-Stage
In your first yearsServing people and learning fast, with much of how you operate still in people's heads.
First focus: billing, staffing, intake, and compliance
Established
Ready to strengthenA track record, and a need to professionalize, modernize, or reset after a hard season.
First focus: culture, human resources, compliance, and evaluation
Expanding
Preparing to growAdding a program, a site, or more people served, and growing without breaking.
First focus: financial modeling, facilities, and growth planning
The framework
The eleven domains
Each domain comes with working tools and training companions. You leave with the documents, policies, and frameworks in hand.
- 01Vision and FoundationsPhilosophy, values, person-centered practice, and disability justice.
- 02Legal and GovernanceIncorporation, bylaws, board structure, and the ED and board relationship.
- 03Program DesignProgram model, daily schedule, staffing ratios, and curriculum.
- 04Funding and Financial ModelingFunding mix, budget templates, private pay rates, and revenue ramp-up.
- 05Billing and ComplianceMedicaid billing, documentation, prior authorization, and audit readiness.
- 06Culture of SupportStaff wellbeing, psychological safety, feedback, and Community of Care.
- 07Staffing and Human ResourcesOrg charts, job descriptions, compensation, onboarding, and reviews.
- 08Client Intake and ServicesIntake, eligibility, person-centered planning, and transitions with dignity.
- 09Fundraising and DevelopmentAnnual plans, donors, grants, events, earned income, and the appeal.
- 10Facilities and OperationsSite selection, accessibility audits, safety, transportation, and tech.
- 11Growth and SustainabilityEnrollment, scaling, replication, strategic planning, and improvement.
How it works
A rhythm that respects your time and your work.
Weekly · 90 minutes
Live cohort session
On Microsoft Teams: check-in, debrief, the next domain, and peer Q&A. Recorded if you can't be there live.
Weekly · 30 minutes
1:1 coaching
With a ConnectIDD mentor matched to the lean of your organization.
Between sessions
A real deliverable
A policy to draft, a framework to apply, or a survey to run with your staff or board.
Your guides
The team in the seat with you
We have built programs, led staff, served families, and made the hard calls. We consult from experience.
Michael ThomasVision, Funding, Staffing, Facilities, and Growth
Mandy NoerperProgram Design, Billing, and Intake
Lily MoseleyOperations, Systems, and Talent
The capstone
Three nights in Asheville
Built around the Communities of Care framework. Restorative and forward-looking, in person or by a virtual hybrid option.
- WednesdayArrival, welcome circle, and dinner
- ThursdayConnection practice and volunteer service
- FridayCapstone presentations and an open afternoon
- SaturdayClosing circle and certificates
What's includedAll programming, venues, food for every scheduled activity, and your printed certificate. Travel and lodging are up to each organization. We share recommended accessible hotels when you enroll.
The Plain Language Plan
Built with the people you serve.
Each organization finishes by turning its work into a short, clear plan, written in plain language with the self-advocates and families it serves.
- Built together, with self-advocates and family members paid fairly for their time
- Reviewed by the people it serves, using a simple rubric
- Shared at the capstone with your 18-month roadmap
- Required for the certificate
Proof and outcomes
Results you can measure
Every organization takes the 11-domain ConnectIDD Organizational Self-Assessment at intake and again at graduation. Your before-and-after report is yours to share with your board and funders.
“We’ve gone from stretched thin to thriving, doubling both our enrollment and our revenue. What sets ConnectIDD apart is that they don’t hand you a plan and walk away. They become part of how your organization works.”
“ConnectIDD helped us plan for growth with clear eyes and then walked with us through the purchase of the property that is now our new home. We now have the space to serve more people in Las Vegas than ever before.”
What you take home
Built during the program, ready to use
What you will take away
- Program philosophy and core values
- Refreshed bylaws and board structure
- Program model and daily schedule
- Multi-year financial model
- Compliance calendar and audit-ready files
- Org chart, pay, and supervision structure
- Onboarding and performance reviews
- Intake packet and person-centered planning
- Fundraising plan and grant calendar
- Accessibility audit and emergency plan
- Three-year strategic plan
- Eighteen-month forward roadmap
- Before-and-after 11-domain report
- Your Plain Language Plan
The credential
The Disability Leadership Certificate
Awarded in person in Asheville and shared digitally for LinkedIn. It lists the eleven domains and your contact hours, signed by Michael Thomas and your mentor.
- Attend 20 of 24 cohort sessions
- Submit all eleven domain deliverables
- Complete your Plain Language Plan
- Present at the Asheville capstone
Join Cohort 1
Four steps to your seat
Cohort 1 launches January 2027 with five to eight organizations, balanced between newer and established.
- SurveyAbout five minutes to tell us about you.
- Discovery call30 minutes with our Director of Programs.
- ApplyA short application and your payment preference.
- OnboardMaterials arrive in December from your mentor.
Speaking
Ideas that move rooms.
Keynotes, conference sessions, and board retreats with two-time TEDx speaker Michael Thomas.
Popular topics
What Michael speaks on
Disability innovationPhilanthropyBuilding cultureInclusion-first citiesOrganizations that lastJoy in disability workBoards that leadAI for nonprofitsThe disability ecosystem
About
We've done this work from the inside.
Built programs, led teams, served families, and made the hard calls.
Our story
From one organization to many
Michael Thomas has spent 20 years in the disability field, 14 of them as CEO building My Possibilities into one of the leading disability organizations in the country.
ConnectIDD puts that experience to work for organizations across the country. We help leaders sharpen their strategy, build capacity, and grow, so more people with disabilities get the support they deserve.
We also build free public tools. The Atlas Network helps people find services in every state, and the same data powers our strategy work.
20+years in the disability field
$50M+raised by Michael for the organizations he served
$10M+raised by our partners with ConnectIDD support
55+organizations supported
Where we work
Partners across the country.
Bigger dots mean more partners in that area. Select a place to see who we have worked with.
- It's a Sensory World!
- The Sandlot Children's Charity
- The Rees-Jones Foundation
- MHMR Tarrant
- Helping Restore Ability
- Center for ASD (CASD)
- Connecting Point of Park Cities
- Goodwill Dallas
- Bryan's House
- The Warren Center
- REACH
- Deaf Action Center
- Hugs Café
- North Texas Disability Chamber
- Coventry Reserve
- North Texas Performing Arts
- Texas Disability Project (Metrocare, Meadows Foundation)
- Altruistic
- United Rocks
- The Arc of the Capital Area
- FP Assistance
- Down Home Ranch
- Marbridge
- Inclusive Fitness
- Texas State University
- UT Austin
- Tall Tales Ranch
- Brewability
- Fort Collins IDD ecosystem project
- The Garden Foundation
- Collaboration Center Las Vegas
- Story Ranch
- Hilltop Ranch
- Open Hearts Art Center
- First WNC
- Mount Jubilee Ministries
- Peacehaven
- Resources for Human Development (RHD)
- Inperium
- The Village Centers
- BUDS Lubbock
- Aspen Center for Learning
- Colin Farrell Foundation
- STARability Foundation
- EmployU
- Popcorn for the People
- Camp Allen
- Every Body Athletics
- The Rhythmic Arts Project (TRAP)
- SDCC
- Kharis Care
- Music Movement
Our team
The people you'll work with
Michael Thomas, MBA
Founder and CEO
Sector strategist and two-time TEDx speaker. Leads Chief Strategy Partner work.
Mandy Noerper
Director of Programs
Fifteen years in education, vocational rehab, and day programs.
Lily Moseley
Director of Operations
Certified PMP and Salesforce Administrator focused on systems and operations.
How we work
What you can count on
Inclusion first
People with disabilities at the center.
Respect is the baseline
Every client gets full rigor, whatever its size.
Plain language
Work your board and families can read.
Built to be used
Measured by what changes, not page count.